In a major anti-corruption crackdown, the Odisha Vigilance has apprehended Satyajit Rout, Deputy Director (Geology)-cum-Deputy Director of Mines, Jayapur, while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakhs from a leaseholder.
The vigilance team trapped Rout this afternoon as he demanded and received the bribe for granting an extension of a mining lease beyond its expiry and for facilitating undue benefits in upcoming spot auctions of sand sources. The entire tainted amount of Rs 2 lakhs was recovered from his possession on the spot and seized.
Following the successful trap, vigilance officials launched simultaneous raids on Rout’s multiple residential properties from the disproportionate assets (DA) angle. Searches were conducted at his house in Lingaraj Nagar, Jayapur, and two properties in Cuttack — one at Bidyadharpur and another at Olakana, Mahanga.
During the searches, vigilance teams unearthed an additional Rs 2.90 lakhs in cash from his Jaypur residence. With the initial bribe money, the total cash seizure now stands at Rs 4.90 lakhs.
A case has been registered at Koraput Vigilance Police Station vide Case No. 14/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigation is underway.
This latest sting operation highlights the Odisha Vigilance’s continued focus on rooting out corruption in key government departments, particularly those dealing with natural resources and mining leases. Sand mining and lease extensions have long been considered vulnerable areas for graft in several districts.
Detailed reports on the searches and further recoveries are awaited as the probe intensifies against the senior geology and mines officer.
